@Kevin Pashuk, this one's for you. Proof that its the relationship that counts.

I am always in awe of talent and artistry. The guitar he uses still allows us to hear his music and I can appreciate that he must have his own unique connection with this instrument. Another guitar would be like another voice.

Thanks for the tag @Chas Wyatt. Very happy to join the hive. Love the Byron quote and already appreciate your first selection and the discussion that has evolved. This excerpt from a Kirkus Review describes why I think THE WORLD IN SIX SONGS by Daniel Levitin is a must read: “Music played a key role in making societies and civilizations possible. So argues research scientist Levitin (Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition, and Expertise/McGill University; This Is Your Brain on Music, 2006, etc.), who believes that music and the human brain co-evolved. What distinguishes us from all other species, he declares, is not language or use of tools, but the impulse toward artistic expression. The auditory art of music became part of our brain's wiring tens of thousands of years ago, and human nature has been shaped by six broad categories of songs, by which Levitin means music of all kinds. Devoting a chapter to each category-friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love-the author speculates about its origins and how it influenced the human spirit over thousands of generations. Levitin sees songs as efficient systems for preserving tribal histories, transmitting essential how-to information from generation to generation and communicating spiritual feelings and deep emotions.”

Thank you for tagging me @Chas Wyatt. I noted and joined your new hive. Music creates and shapes culture and vice versa. Music is like a form of identification. It says a lot about who we are. Thank you for the lovely slideshow share.

One of the peculiarities about residing in an age with an abundance of media is that we do not usually listen to music that someone has not given some context or meaning to. We are more readily to listen to Salif Keita because it visually captured a scene in the movie about Mohammad Ali in "When We Were Kings" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Rulsk1tWk and still not know who Salif Kaita was or is. With or without context the appreciation I have for music is commensurate to the talent that produced it and in this case the context is enhanced with a nicely crafted slideshow of africa and it's people.

Portrait of a Living LegendDeep in the heart of Switzerland’s Jura mountains lives an unassuming but extremely charismatic gentleman by the name of Philippe Dufour. It is quite possible, and highly probable that the name does not ring a bell. He has no need to...

#16 Indeed, no website, no retail outlet, all word of mouth, and as you saw in the video, one might have to wait 6 years before receiving your watch (if you are lucky). Much appreciated @Praveen Raj Gullepalli

#15 I am glad that this article insights passion that is not materialistic, but more of an appreciation of dedication and craftsmanship. Thanks for stopping by @Ali Anani. The Simplicity is a grail watch for many collectors, and a grail that many will never achieve as they are simply too rare. They are certainly not the most complicated of watches, lacking much sought after complications such as perpetual calendars or tourbillons, but in terms of finishing, the techniques involved are exceptional.http://quillandpad.com/2016/03/02/behind-the-lens-the-philippe-dufour-simplicity/

#13 Thanks for stopping by @Sara Jacobovici. The Quartz crisis in the 1980's almost wiped out the Swiss watch industry and CNC machining took the soul out of mechanicals. The industry had to adapt, and it's survival is often credited to Nicolas Hayek, Co-founder of the Swatch Group, but credit must also be given to the numerous independents like Dufour, who created desire by innovating and perfecting arduous and old techniques in finishing.

#5 The best need not advertise, nor need boast; for what's empty and shallow, would be observed by most. Driven by a deep passion, genius doth strive; never in a hurry to achieve, and never in a rush to arrive.

@Dean Owen- a great buzz and you convinced me time is an investment and an input. It takes Dufour nearly 2,000 hrs to make a watch that reads time! Time is patience and time is Simplicity- simplifying complicated processes with patience and sheer creativity.

I echo the words of your readers @Dean Owen; great article. I consider us creative beings (and each an artisan in our own way as @Kevin Pashuk wrote #8). It never ceases to amaze me how we express our creativity and reflect what we're drawn to or what awes us. Time is definitely a shared human experience, a universal, cross-cultural, cross-generational part of our existence and we have always tried, and continue, to make sense of it. The combination of creativity, artistry and craftsmanship that produces these watches, objects/devices, that measure time, have the power of transcending their function.

#7 Dean! Actually they are the people who have kept the traditions alive, real human traditions based on principles. They never compromise on principles. They're not only great craftsmen but role model human beings as well. If somebody wants to know how to be inspired, they just look at these living legends.

It is always inspiring to read about true artisans... in this case a watchmaker, but I have found them in every arena of life. For example, I watch (and am amazed at) the skill my wife has in dealing with people going through crisis. In my eyes, she is an artisan of compassion.

Too true @Qamar Ali Khan. Dufour left the established watch industry to go independent because he felt the industry had lost it's focus and became a huge marketing machine. He could easily now turn his reputation into a multi-million dollar brand, but is just happy to churn out around 5 watches a year now making no compromise on the quality of the product. There are watchmakers like Richard Mille lead hugely lavish lifestyles with models, race cars, speed boats and movie stars. Not Dufour. Thanks for reading and sharing! Much appreciated.

Brilliant work @Dean Owen! It's so mazing to read your post and to watch the clip. People like Dufour are the symbol of real craftsmanship in this technology-driven era. Thank you for such a great knowledge!

Ahhh, a lesson to be learnt here that the best don't need to advertise. The ones that do, typically LVMH or Swatch group companies like IWC, understand that many luxury watch purchases are made overseas so a plane makes perfect sense.

Your impressive list puts my Casio Edifice to shame. I must admit, however, to perusing the photographs of impressive watches on flight magazines on my business trips. I wonder why they always appear to advertise there, since flying is no longer a luxury by any means? Good to know what makes you tick, Dean. :-)) #3

Indeed @Ken Boddie, but not just the Swiss, but the Germans (Lang & Heyne, A. Lange & Sohne), but also the Brits, (Roger Smith), plus a number of highly skilled watchmakers in Russia (Konstantin Chaykin), Japan (Hajime Asaoka), Ireland (the McGonigle brothers) just to name a few.

One of the gifts Leonard Cohen left for us.Image credit: eBayThe following is an excerpt of Leonard Cohen's acceptance speech address at the Prince Asturias Awards delivered 21 October 2011. (Emphasis mine.) "When I was packing in Los Angeles to come here, I had a sense of unease...

I think this a very common feeling to anyone who is involved in any type of creative work (that is, most of us, right?). But, rather than feeling like a charlatan, I think we can feel blessed knowing that what we do is actually bigger than ourselves. I'm sure Leonard was very familiar with this feeling too.

I did my best, it wasn't muchI couldn't feel, so I tried to touchI've told the truth, I didn't come to fool youAnd even though it all went wrongI'll stand before the Lord of SongWith nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

"So I feel somewhat like a charlatan to accept an award for an activity which I do not command". Amazing quote and I wonder how many things come to us without ever grasping their source. How many creative ideas came to my mind without know how. Poetry is creativity and we have no command on creativity. This is the paradox: creativity and command work against each other and I wonder if we would ever know the source of creative ideas for we shall command them and if we do our creativity shrinks. Thank you @Sara Jacobovici for this wonderful sharing

Pathogenic ThinkingLife is a full of conflicts. We experience conflict between new ideas and old ones, between the familiar and long-standing beliefs and the emerging new ones. We have conflict of interests. We have conflict between new strategies and old ones and...

#61 A beautiful addition @Praveen Raj Gullepalli and one worthy of practicing. I'm reminded that for years mediatation was the boat I used to make my way across the river, but once crossed the boat became non-essential.

#59 Thank you @Sara Jacobovivi for the warm welcome. Consciousness and intelligence are synonymous for me. Asking the question where is intellignece, asks the mind for a point of reference and it is no where. When we use no thought to interpret it simply is here, present. The 'isness', we can say nothing about it.

#63 It is a privilege to be connected with such evolved minds and souls, ever curious and ever-searching for meaning and answers, in their personal and professional lives, the way I am, here on beBee. I have rarely seen such Intellect, Passion, Reason, Rationale, Humour, Grit, Satire and Wit showcased on one platform the way it is here. The pleasure is all mine Sir! Shukran!

#61 Dear @Sara Jacobovici- you shall find this comment of dear @Praveen Raj Gullepalli so deep. Just this part shows its quality "Observing thoughts as they surface and get replaced by other thoughts is Awareness".

#59 I am on the look out for your feedback @Sara Jacobovici. I welcome @Joanne Swecker greatly as I have frequently exchanged comments with her on LI and she always amazes me with the quality of her comments and before that the quality of herself as a great and passionate human.

#57 Dear Joanne, just to add to your thoughts ...from some reading I had done recently. I share thus:Observing thoughts as they surface and get replaced by other thoughts is Awareness. (This is generally done by observing the Breath calmly in a sitting posture, with closed eyes). Being deep in thought, evaluating an idea, process or concept is Contemplation. Focusing mentally on a Thought form/idea/ sound is akin to Meditation. A great lot of importance is given to the breathing rhythm and frequency which resonates with our thoughts and even health.

#33 Jawad Bhai! Thank you for the kind words! Everyone we meet here on this platform connects us either to the past, the present or the future. And helps us Branch out. Take deeper root. As fractals. As forms. As ideators. As creators. As rationalists. Or otherwise - setting up a flow. To help us Grow. I get so distraught at the paucity of time! So much to share and catch up on, but I steal moments off and on to read, respond, participate and share the best I can. My beBee interface is almost always on through the waking hours. I am a short-form communicator mostly. I have been writing off and on through the years, but in short couplets, paras, even doggerel, that fits the thoughts. But I believe I can get into a blogging mode eventually.

#57 #58 First, let me say how wonderful it is to see you on beBee @Joanne Swecker. Your comment is proof already of what a wonderful contribution you are and will be making to this site. Your comment is beautifully written and conceived. No less is the proof that it has inspired @Ali Anani. My gut/heart reaction to your comment Joanne is that you are introducing the concept of thoughts as an entity in and of themselves that can move in and out of our thought consciousness to be experienced but not owned. This inspires me to revisit Jung's collective unconscious and see how your insight/perspective fits in.

#57 Not less even by one inch what your comments inspire me with dear @Joanne Swecker. Even though you meant thought and not though in the following extract of your comment, but it got my mind brewing We can experience a clear observation, in this clarity we are able to allow thoughts to come and go, we recognize that though is an appearance in and of itself."

Thoughts on thought Dear Ali...Where are thoughts located? When we come from an expanded and open perspective we can direct our experience to what is actually here right now, instead of our attention being scattered in thinking. We can experience a clear observation, in this clarity we are able to allow thoughts to come and go, we reccognize that though is an appearance in and of itself. Thought thinks about appearance, about this and that. But in this openess we come to allow this appearance, coming and going. What is aware of thought is never absent and thought has no intelligence of it's own. I am continually and eagerly challenged to observe my thoughts by your thinking.

#53 My daughter and I both sing in the car together, and we laugh at ourselves when ee make words up because we dont know all the words to some songs. Sure makes time go by faster and keeps the mind preoccupied

#46 Talking of energy-drainers, yes, I have read about such energy-vampires and experienced a few thank you! ;) They could be anywhere, among friends, family. I guess they are not to blame, but you do feel all drained up, awry and tired after even a brief stint/conversation/chat on the phone with them. Ah but it is so much easier to ignore such vacuum cleaners on a virtual platform! :)

In relation to the WPD (wonderment-passion-drive) Factor cc@Ali Anani, @Fatima Williams): Fabio Marzocca writes: "Martin Heidegger stated that to understand the world, to recover our authenticity, we must return to those who thought about the world before Socrates; that is, to the origins of our amazement for the wonders of being."In relation to the Defining Creativity Hive, Fabio Marzocca writes: "Creativity really flows when we are linked to our deepest roots, the most deeply rooted knowledge structures, representing the most powerful tools to be able to "trigger" the process of developing a fruitful thought. A "creative" thought always arises from the transformation of a substrate of basic knowledge that (sometimes unknowingly) takes part in the process, and then becomes itself a base for the next one in a continuous transformation."

#9 Dear Sara truly appreciate your thoughtful and fascinating shares in the flow . Yes indeed our creativity is as unique as we are . And our unique experiences shape our creativity. A great post share Sara .And the lines you have chosen from his work are my favourite too .

Thank you so much for tagging me on this buzz. @Ali Anani Creativity flows from our deepest roots.. I think I should agree on this, as some of our thoughts come from the sub-conscious mind and we would have never thought that we were capable of thinking something like that before that thought had been woken up. Much of what we think has its base from our deepest roots similar to that of a seed, that gives birth to a fruitful plant which later spread its branches and then provides delicious fruits

#5 This is an example of what you mentioned in your buzz dear @Sara Jacobovici "A "creative" thought always arises from the transformation of a substrate of basic knowledge that (sometimes unknowingly) takes part in the process, and then becomes itself a base for the next one in a continuous transformation.", We are living this transformation and our (you, @Fatima Williams and myself) WPD factor is being transformed by us. Yes, it is a journey with a bottomless end.

#2 Your questions are evocative @Ali Anani. My gut response is to say that flow is a quality of drive. Our drive can be observed, measured, assessed, based on its flow. Do we need to make adjustments, are there any points of blockages, and so on. An important question Dr. Ali.

You shall never cease to bewilder me with your great thoughts and in connecting the dots of various experiences @Sara Jacobovici. This is a deep buzz and as deep the bottomless deep well of the past. Depth and creativity- depth of the past, depth of the roots of experiences, and the depth of ideas that all lead to deep creativity. The question is as we dig deeper, the challenges change and new layers of thinking become a necessity. Deep down the ocean we have challenges as animals and plants do, which differ greatly from challenges on the surface. I believe you bring a hugely relevant idea Sara in that creativity and depth are interconnected.So many worthy issues this buzz brings to the surface. Thank you Sara for sending me deep in the bottomless well of creativity.

Get Creative Or DieIt’s been a few weeks of a lot of work and interesting interactions with a wide range of people. This is in itself not unusual. But the specific depth of some of these interactions is.It’s not often that you get into the deep murky stuff that makes...

I have a well enough grasp on reality that I have no intention to change my gender designation in the name of 'enlightenment'. P.S. ISIS was founded, funded, trained, launched, armed, protected and produced while Hillary was at the helm of of the State Department. Across the planet, people are well awake and aware to what she, State, CIA, DIA, NED, & SOROS did in the names of Arab Spring, Color Revolutions, Maidan, Regime Change and the current 'immigrant crisis' ~ America, not so much.

What a great read this morning @David Chislett. We live in a symbiotic world. Each action is felt by many as we walk on our journey. Even the caveman experience, as simple as the needs were, they were buffeted by each other. Somewhere along the way our communications have awakened a dark side of the human experience. My on opinion is that we have left some core values behind in the name of success. Existence is such a blessing and we tend to waste it on some very meaningless dialogue that only serves to heighten our lower functioning brain.

I have always thought that knowledge takes away the darkness of fear. I am amazed that with 2+trillion of student loan debt that we would be motivated by a media that thrives on triggering our lower brain function. I watch citizens who become destructive over events, religious values stretched to include mass murder and people who would grab all that they could at the expense of others, in shear frustration. These along with other actions only serve to broaden the self destructive behavior we are experiencing.

The larger question that looms, how can we reverse this process of madness? My thought, one person/family at a time. Thanks for sharing your journey this morning.

Great share @Jena Ball. In case your interested there is more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5jZTHRd5hMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eql_r-Tueeohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shLSWO659vshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVa_ZENSqvw

Fractals, Beauty of Complexity (and Chaos)Self-similarity (Fractals) on all scales may be the secret key to understanding the complex phenomena. Self-similarity on rather different scales is another proof of fractal nature of cosmology. ...

I dig the concepts @Milos Djkic. I am curious if you have studied digital to analog conversions?

I think of the binary expression of digital as the fractal beginning with the use of oct and hex to expand it into the analog. Behind the fractal design is where the chaos factor is. It's behind the fractal so to speak. I feel it is that chaos factor that is in the binary that on occasion switches it up at random to change the design that eludes us.

Who or what is making the random decision that changes the fractal design?

I tend to lean toward gyre theory which says simply stated that at the heart of the smallest subatomic particle is a singularity that works on a vortex. My theory that I can not prove or disprove s that there is a consciousness within the singularity.

It's the only thing that explains the chaos factor with anything that makes sense. for me.

Career and Life Lessons From the Quiet PainterJackie Kennedy loved his paintings, and to this day, a few of them hang in the Oval Office. But when asked how he was able to paint sunlight so realistically, world-famous painter Edward Hopper casually replied, "The whole answer is there on the...

Just one learning curve found in this well written Buzz by @Cory Galbraith: "In our careers today, the challenge is knowing what talents and skills we have that can attract others. Know yourself. But also know your audience. Then, create a match."

Wonderful piece @Cory Galbraith. You manged to integrate the non-verbal and verbal and express and communicate another integration; how to benefit from using imagination in our personal and professional lives.

Core of the VortexMonumental energy created at sourceCreating patterns across the spaceDecoding the designs in the flow of forceSpreading beyond dimensions at its mystical pace Core is never static, yet centeredStrength of the vortex emanates from the coreSpiralling...

Michael Franti - Why I Make Music (Mini-Documentary) “I make music for one reason... I care about people and I care about the planet.” - Michael Franti New Music @ https://www.michaelfranti.com/ This video,...

Right ON, @Chas Wyatt, thanks for the tag. Love this guy. My friend went is going to see him tomorrow night in Missoula and I'm seriously envious. There is something so magical about bringing music to others, encouraging them to dance and find joy -- even for just a few moments -- to let go of what's troubling them. It's why I sing, for sure!

@Chas Wyatt...wow...thanks a lot for this introduction.The music, the message and the man, what an inspiring rhythm and story...inclusive. The world needs music and singers to get us on a common ground. I 😘😎❤💚💛💜💙💘

Thanks for tagging me @Chas Wyatt. What a great share! "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." Billy Joel

#9 Thanks @Chas Wyatt I shared some of his songs with one of my nieces last night. She will be staying with us to finish her Masters in speech pathology. She is a TBI Survivor and has worked hard since her accident to meet her dreams. You helped me in that journey, and in so doing also made me look like a rockstar. She said she had never heard of him. So I thine played her Say Hey (I Love You). She just smiled and sang the entire song. You made me one proud uncle.

Wow @Chas Wyatt... So so beautiful! Love the idea of feeling the music in every cell of my body, that how I feel sometimes and that's one of them! Thanks for tagging me, today I'll be listening Franti's music, this video made me want to give him a huge hug. Here it goes one huge one for all of you... ✨

I LOVE PEOPLE - I LOVE THE PLANET - @Chas Wyatt, thank you for introducing me to this 'band of brothers! Everything that was said in this video clip resonates with me. I am renewed! There is so much love in this world if only we open our eyes to see it. I want to be a "SOUL ROCKER" ! I must now go download some of their music!!

@Chas Wyatt Thank you for sharing .this Soulful Rocker whose sense of purpose will take him far . When dance and music becomes a celebration of life and about living it lovingly, our world can certainly do with more of this in every new moment .

This is an artful extension to my recent buzz "Drowning in the Pursuit of Happiness" and this something here for many of my fellow friend-bees. There's talk of fractals for @Milos Djukic and @Ali Anani and great Artful visuals I know @Chas Wyatt would appreciate and a great line for - "when we focus on our joy, that can become our bliss." and more for @Lisa Gallagher, @Javier beBee,@Juan Imaz. Peace Out my friends!

#16 I agree @Irene Hackett. This is actually making me want to take a trip to the Outer banks again before the end of Oct. How far are you from a large body of water and some nice sand? Outer banks is about 10 hours from me. I most certainly will post :))

#14 Me too my friend, @Lisa Gallagher - we just have to do this, even if our examples look like scribbles - it would be a free-spirited and 'childlike' - fun thing to do. When either of us decide to do this, we must vow to take pictures and share! :-)

#13 Oooh, thank you @Deb Helfrich - I must look into the "Capturing Impermanence" project you mentioned, now fitting with the recent conversations that have been buzzing around! Your comment is incredibly relevant - "it occurs to me that what so many of us do each day is our own version of sustainable, time constrained art as we express joy, beauty, friendship, and love of life in these comment boxes." I so appreciate you and your brilliant comments!

I'm glad this came back up again today @Irene Hackett, so relaxing to look at. I still want to try this the next time I'm in sand. He's such a great artist, not sure I could come close to what he does but it would be fun trying. Like being a kid again!!

Hey, @Irene Hackett & @Fatima Williams thanks for re-prioritizing my day... :) I've been looking at his photos and I'm enrapt with the whole concept of how he is living his life and sharing his vision and talents. One of the places I clicked off to is a project called "Capturing Impermanence" and it occurs to me that what so many of us do each day is our own version of sustainable, time constrained art as we express joy, beauty, friendship, and love of life in these comment boxes.

@Dean Owen and @Sara Jacobovici - happy you both stopped by and shared your enjoyment for this wonderful Artist's work. And @Deb Helfrich - I your description of Andres' art is perfect - couldn't have said it any better!!

#3 My mom used to doodle when she was on the phone too @Irene Hackett. I have some photos she painted- we found them after she passed. I had no idea what a great artist she was. Well, maybe we will have to give sand art a try!!